Linux Mint users got a very early Christmas gift in September 2022 when it was announced that Linux Mint 21.1, codenamed “Vera”, would arrive around the 2022 holiday season.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!What’s new in Linux Mint 21.1?
Linux Mint, a customized Ubuntu version will come with new features when it launches around Christmas 2022, according to the Linux Mint newsletter by team leader Clement Lefebvre.
Lefebvre thanked the developers and donors of the project. It is unclear which version 21.1 will be based on, but given that it is a point release, it will likely be based on the previously released Ubuntu 22.04 “Jammy Jellyfish” in 2022, as the current Linux Mint 21 is based on that version. .
A new tool to verify ISO downloads is making its debut in the new version. This allows users to automatically verify downloads to ensure that they were not somehow diverted in a “man-in-the-middle” attack. The tool verifies the image against a checksum to ensure that it is a bit-to-bit exact copy. The tool automatically fills in the keys for Linux Mint.
USB Stick Formatter now writes Windows images. This is probably an acknowledgment that many Linux users still run dual-boot systems with Linux and Windows or may press themselves into service as informal IT support for friends and family. In either case, this will make it easy to repair any Windows installation.
There are also changes to the documentation covering how to reset the password, disable Bluetooth on boot, and how to create a Windows Live or multiboot USB stick.
The new version will also de-clutter the desktop by removing the Computer, Home, Trash and Network desktop icons.
Hardware support tweaks
With the new version will come some hardware support improvements. The Driver Manager utility is being overhauled with “dummy devices” and dummy packages to improve testing. The tool now runs in user mode, so users no longer have to provide an administrative password.
The system also supports Debconf, which will improve support for NVIDIA graphics chips.
When will users get Linux Mint 21.1?
According to the newsletter, Linux Mint 21.2 will land on “Christmas” in 2022. It is not clear whether this means Christmas Day, December 25, or before or after that date. There’s no mention of a specific desktop environment, but it’s likely that the next version will continue the practice of having the default Cinnamon desktop as well, available in MATE or Xfce versions.
Some Welcome Tweaks for Linux Mint
The new version could be a welcome holiday gift for existing Linux Mint users when it launches in December 2022.
Which version of Linux should a new user try first? Ask around, and someone is bound to recommend Linux Mint. Why? It is one of the friendliest, most versatile distributions of Linux out there.
Here are some reasons why Linux Mint might be worth a try.
1. Cinnamon feels familiar to Windows users
Why are you switching to Linux? The reasons are many, from saving money to privacy concerns. For many people, the idea of learning a new way to use their computer is not what they are looking for. Linux Mint understands.
If you know how to use Windows or a Chromebook, Linux Mint’s Cinnamon interface feels right at home.
You launch apps by clicking a button in the bottom-left. Your open apps and windows panels line up at the bottom of the screen. System indicators and the time sit in the bottom-right corner. Windows have minimize, maximize, and close buttons. You access most apps’ options using the traditional menubar.
After all, Linux is not Windows. File system is different. Apps aren’t bundled in a single format, nor does software built for Windows run on Linux without a few hoops. There are a lot of new things you have to learn when switching to Linux, but with Mint, the interface is not one of those things.
2. All required apps come pre-installed
When you install a Linux distribution (or distro), you may be surprised by the amount of software already available. Not only do you not have to pay for it, but you don’t even have to download it separately! This is great for newcomers who have no idea what software is available for Linux or what these programs are called.